My grandson who lives out in Colorado is 14. He struggles with school, but wants to go to college... he's interested in robotics, engineering and wood working. After consultation with doctors, teachers and Frank himself, he decided to try ADHD meds. So far this year he's getting all A's with a couple of B's and is even taking some honors classes. Mom and dad promised him if he could bring his grades up, he could build a gaming computer with Grandma, something he's wanted to do for years. So I shopped the sales between Thanksgiving and Christmas like mad and had everything shipped out to Denver. I flew out there last Sunday during their spring break from school so we could do the build and flew back home on Wednesday.

Since he wanted this to be a gaming computer powerful enough for the really high demand shooters and RPGs (although he also likes adventure games!!), I got some pretty high end stuff. Although we ran into a couple of glitches, it was all able to be solved. But at the end, no matter what we tried, the $400 video card was DOA. I even put in a new power supply to make sure that wasn't the problem. So I left him connected to the on-board graphics on the Core i7 CPU and brought the graphics card home with me. Wednesday evening after I got back, I ordered a new one from Amazon so he could have it by Friday.

Now, remember, this is the first time Frank has ever had the slightest thing to do with building a computer... and he had to install this new graphics card himself. He had picked up on things very quickly and had the basics of how you need power and data cables and how all the power has to come from the power supply and how components are mounted to specific slots on the motherboard. So he had to connect a power cable to the power supply that was compatible with the 8-pin connector on the video card and mount the new card on the motherboard. I had laid the correct cable out for him, but it wasn't an easy thing to do since everything else was already connected and there is virtually no room to work any more. I told him to feel free to unscrew the power supply from the case and lift it out a ways to be able to get to it.

So this was all happening Friday after 5:00 his time. We went to town to get something to eat and had stopped by the American Legion for a beer. I hadn't slept the night before and couldn't even eat much because I was so nervous about all this! I was just sick that I had to leave him without his powerful gaming computer! My cell rang about 6:20 his time and it was Frank. Praise all that is holy, he got it installed and Windows 10 recognized it! I nearly dropped to my knees, I was so relieved! But he still had a problem. He had downloaded the 50GB game, Metro Exodus, and after the movie intro, it wouldn't do anything - blank screen. I asked if he had installed the video card drivers from the disc that came with it and he said no. So I told him to install those drivers and call me back. So, I'm back on pins and needles! About 15 minutes later, he called back and told me his Metro game was up and running! This time I nearly wept I was so relieved! I will never forget these four words... "Grandma, I'm SO happy!" We talked a while and I told him how proud I was of him for being able to do this on his own and how it's when there are problems that you learn a lot. I had my son stand by just in case, but he told me had absolutely no idea what Frank was doing! I had gone into the women's bathroom so I could hear him and Dave said I looked like the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders when I came back into the bar!

So, anyway, that's my computer building saga and I am one happy - and relieved - Grandma. PNY will take back the DOA video card and send me a new one. I need to upgrade my video card anyway, so it all worked out. Whew!

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. When life gives you tomatoes, make Bloody Marys.

What a terrific story, Drac! Not terrific because of all the hassle...but terrific because it had a happy ending. Kudos to you for teaching your grandson well! Kudos to your grandson for being such a fine student! Well done!

Last edited by JKEerie on Fri Apr 05, 2019 10:39 am, edited 1 time in total.